My golden retriever, Honey, took a lethal shot of phenobarbitol this morning, with my son and I by her side. She'd been losing her appetite as well as her motor skills, sometimes waking up in the middle of the night barking, taking an occasional leak on the carpet, and suffering from a tumor inside her lip. She almost made it to her 16th birthday. Our family will miss her dearly. I hope she's chasing slower rabbits and squirrels wherever she is now.

Thanks, Mary, and indeed, fostering is a wonderful thing! With limited space in it's facility, Pet Refuge relies on a dedicated group of foster families to serve as many animals as it can, and I'm sure the situation is the same at any shelter anywhere.

And yes, some dogs decide that they just aren't gonna look adoptable at an adoption event--happened to my daughter and her fiance with a wonderful big black dog named Cooper, who they finally adopted themselves.

Then there are the extremely giving folks who become permanent fosters for animals who due to health issues or some other problem are not considered adoptable. In those cases Pet Refuge continues to provide health care and food for what is otherwise a permanent home. Big hats off to the people who take on that responsibility.

I would add that if you're in a position to foster a critter it can be a huge godsend. Even if you don't Fail Foster like I did with Callie, who's still here 13 years later (it was pretty obvious within the first 24 hours she was staying...).

During the holiday season, people's thoughts often turn to the less fortunate, and I'd like to remind everyone that there are too many unfortunate members of the four-legged tribe out there that could use a little help.

I recently started volunteering a couple times a week at our wonderful local no-kill, all-volunteer shelter, Pet Refuge (helping cats and dogs for the last 32 years), and it's a very rewarding endeavor, if heartbreaking at times (you'll meet some critters who have lived through hell). Scooping litter boxes, cleaning water bowls and cleaning up messes doesn't sound very glamorous, but I've still time to pay attention and give some love to the cats who are waiting for their forever home--and they appreciate it, so very, very much.

Now, the people who really look like they're having fun are the ones who volunteer to give the dogs walks around the neighborhood--and the dogs look even happier!

So, anyhow, if you have a nearby shelter that actually cares for the animals it takes in, rather than warehousing and "euthanizing" them, I'd encourage you all to give 'em a call and see what you can do to help. Doesn't need to be a donation of time, not even money--old, clean blankets and towels, newspapers, pet food and treats, office and cleaning supplies, maybe even publicity, if you have access to an audience. Pet Refuge even takes aluminum cans!

Anything you can do will be appreciated--especially by the dogs and cats who haven't done anything wrong, just have had the bad luck to be unwanted--

There's such a disconnect, our lifespans to theirs. They become part of us, and then are gone so quickly. But we heal. My sincerest condolences.

One of my dogs is getting on in years, and I'm mostly oblivious to her rush of time as it compares to mine. Except every once in a while, I take real notice and understand that it won't be that much longer. Will it be this year or next, or the next...or next week? She's about the favorite dog we've ever had, and I know her passing will be tough. I need to remember to live the life she has while she still has it.

He's under the Magnolia, next to his brother forever. Guess Cassidy is glad to see him again! I keep forgetting and look or listen for him.
**********************************
By trying we can easily learn to endure adversity -- another man's I mean.
Mark Twain

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